Face to Face – Hold Fast (Acoustic Sessions)

By Sarah Mac

Fat Wreck Chords

Face to Face have returned with a face-smasher Hold Fast — and as the title implies, you’re darn right, it’s an acoustic album. Hold Fast features songs from the band’s 30 year history stretching back to “Disconnected” from their debut record and “Don’t Turn Away” and “Velocity” from their sophomore outing, Big Choice. Both contrast drastically from the original recordings — the melodies are present but the heavy, quick-tempo riffs are smoothed over at a relaxed pace, giving each of these classic tunes new life. Songs like “Blind” off their 1996 self-titled have a familiar sound but have developed a more honestly emotional feel. “Keep Your Chin Up” from their 2016 album Protection receives also receives a more digestible approach. With their first attempt to do acoustic, they’ve succeed in a different sound and feel on a wide range of songs.